Why Bother?

[alianchild]

May the great green Arkleseizure smile on you brother.

[Flesketbrinner]

Al you do is talk, talk, talk...stop talking, just shut up.

[CapnOrdinary]

All you do is whine, whine, whine...

If you don't like it, you can just (revelation, tadaa) NOT WATCH!

[smashsamus]

Sooo...CapnOrdinary' do you ever plan to respond to 'criskity', right below? or are you going to just, conventiently for the sake of your petty argument, going to ignore him?? ...

[smashsamus]

CapnOrdinary', just disregard that last comment I made. XD ..I listened to the whole thing and I thought all that you spoke was pretty good. sorry.

[criskity]

I bother because theists have a stranglehold on our culture and politics, and this restricts freedom.

[nitroyoda]

you are very right religion was always used for war and to say our religion is better then yours hahha right indeed

[Cougs08]

I would've watched this entire video without any audio just for the hopping and dancing dinosaur creatures.

[RabbitEars001]

CO - Kind of a judgemental point of view. My challenge is that I'm a thiest so my God created YOU for some purpose. I'm a monothiest so I don't believe in an evil demi-god but that the adversary (satan) is a part of the "big" god. So I don't think the devil made you do it. - Peace

[CapnOrdinary]

Which god would this be, then?

(And of course, the usual array of questions pop into my head, but what it really boils down to is: Why do you believe there is a god? What was it that convinced you?)

[RabbitEars001]

I wish I had this profound answer that would bring you to your knees, but I haven't found one. The little pieces are that "life for life's sake" seems so inadequate and the laws of thermodynamics say things get simpler and less energetic, but evolution causes things to be complicated. That drive to "survive" and also become complicated (more energy) is the touch of God. Why would a pile of molecules care when it consumes other piles of molecules or other piles of molecules consume them? -Peace

[CapnOrdinary]

Dude, I'm not asking for a good answer, I'm asking for the one that worked for you.

"Life for life's sake" is inadequate? That's a reason to believe, sure. It's not a reason to suppose that a god exists, though. As for the laws of thermodynamics versus evolution, the source of energy involved there is called the Sun.......

[RabbitEars001]

This is the - give enough monkeys typewriters and sooner or later you get Shakespeare - theorem. It has merit. You have to get from excess energy to self replication to self adaptation. If God isn't a guy in the sky, it's a grand process and constraints. Still God to me. It only becomes a problem if you want to be able to "own" or "manipulate" God as you can't get there. Prayer is to get straight with God, not the other way around.

--- Peace

[CapnOrdinary]

Self replication is a property of specific molecules. The formation of such a molecule only needs to happen once.

Adaptation is an inevitability, once you have a self-replicator.

But you're still jumping around rather than at the issue. Who is the god that you believe in, and why do you believe in that god?

[RabbitEars001]

The question stands at the social level too. People should be exterminating each other at about the clan or village level. Why are so-called civilizations able to arise. We aren't that biologically special.

[CapnOrdinary]

Why "should" people exterminate each other at the clan or village level? According to what principles or theorems?

[RabbitEars001]

Competition for resources. Whales have pods, dogs have packs, lions have prides. The natural limit for predators is much smaller than for prey. People are predators. It's the black block in 2001: A Space Odyssey. There are jumps that seem too elegant (not linear, lacking near misses) to be random (starting with self replecation etc.)

[CapnOrdinary]

Hmm.... I would argue that until now, there hasn't been much of a shortage of resources... And regardless of the competition, it is a rare species that eliminates itself (I can't think of any). On the other hand, we have in the course of our evolutionary history eliminated several competitor species, notable the neanderthal branch. Oh well, I guess we'll have to agree to disagree.

[RabbitEars001]

As clarification, not that humans would eradicate the species, but that at about the clan level, resource limits should have kept larger communities from forming. The single family home vs the apartment building.

[RabbitEars001]

God is the being, spirit, quantumechanical rule maker that created belief. My belief in science (I'm an engineer) is no more proveable than my belief in God. I believe Newton lived. I can't prove it. Only piles of stuff we call evidence - all provided by people who want me to believe Newton lived. The monothiestic belief is random bullheadedness. I suspect I'd be something else if life had dropped me in another place or time.

[CapnOrdinary]

As it happens, I'm an engineer as well ;o)

But I have to disagree with you on the rest. Science is about observable reality. So far, at least, the idea of gods is not.

I find it rather telling, that everything that used to be explained with the words "god did it", that we have figured out how works, turned out to have perfectly natural causes, none of which required the intervention of god(s). Until evidence is presented to the contrary, I see no reason to doubt that that trend will continue.

[RabbitEars001]

This is the first generation for which the "forever" in the Bible must mean "some how or some where else" as the earth and universe as we know it are not forever (but could be argued that they were in generations past.)

[CapnOrdinary]

Indeed. We are in the fortunate position to have answers to most of the questions we could possibly pose about our universe.

But somehow, people still manage to find room for god(s) in the ever shrinking gaps in our knowledge.... I have to say, the god(s) that we have left by now are rather small and insignificant compared to the god that made the pillar of flame that guided Moses through the desert.....

[RabbitEars001]

Science rules the probable. God happens in the improbable. There is a small probability that the air molecules will rush to one corner of a room, but forces keep them from that all the time. Kirk Gibson pulled my car out of a snowdrift in Nebraska the year the Detroit Tigers won the pennant. It's not magic. It's not experimentally reproducible either. So what is the point of "love God and enjoy Him forever"? Embrace mystery, trust in love, heal when in despair, seek new truth.

[RabbitEars001]

Since I'm already rambling, let me just add that God is not about "how" things work, (God created thus and so in this manner kind of talk) but why. Unfortunately, humans are limited in what we can use at any given time. Could have helped avoid the science/humanities split if Moses had brought down the Heizenberg uncertainty principle with the 10 Commandments.

[imlaughing2death]

Cap'n I'm glad you don't make any Penis monsters like 95% of people who have this demo/game thing. That's really funking annoying.I heard when the game comes out they're gonna block any one who makes those kinds of monsters,but I bet there's gonna be few hackers who'll find a way to get in anyway.

[Demonaphia]

Make a Kent Hovind spore creature! That would be pro, especially if he was in a jail suit.

[CapnOrdinary]

LOL that's actually a cool idea, I think I'll try see if that's possible :)

[GnosticAtheist]

Excellent video. I agree completely.

[maximuspita]

I love your voice.

[bushfingers]

Apart from one exception, the atheists that I have encountered here have again shown me how arrogant, self-righteous, and frankly dull most of you are.

I would rather be wrong, stupid or even struck down with leprosy than be one of you. I'd prefer the company of a fundamentalist Muslim to yours any day.

There is nothing wrong with atheism - it is just you execrable little turds than sicken any decent person.

[CapnOrdinary]

Well that's good. You have clearly demonstrated that you are stupid, and it's quite obvious that you're wrong.... I'm afraid the leprosy part is a bit harder to deal with these days, especially as leprosy is no longer incurable.

And how would you know what sickens decent people?

[bushfingers]

So I am stupid and wrong. Still beats being you mate.

And how would I know what sickens decent people?

Well, all the decent people I know are sickened by your type.

I must leave here now, because I am liable to catch something far worse that leprosy from you and your little disciples - existential, psychological and intellectual myopia.

Oh yes, and your username is very apt, if not a little self-aggrandising.

[CapnOrdinary]

Well, yeah, reason is contagious.... But I'm pretty sure you're immune, no worries.

[philip1201]

You like Bach, you're from South Africa, you've got a computer and enough spare time to debate on youtube while you're middle-aged.

My guess is you're an Afrikaner. You were born in the last years of the enslavement of black people, but just early enough that you might have been taught the old values*.

Going on the right track?

*don't pretend you don't know what they are.

[bushfingers]

No dude - you are wrong again. I'm not Afrikaans.

But please treat me like one, since the only thing you seem capable of doing is attacking straw men.

Honestly now. Your persistence and inability to stop harassing me are starting to worry me. You're not going to turn up at my house with a axe are you?

[philip1201]

What? I ATTACKED WHAT YOU SAID YOUR POINT WAS FOR THE FOURTH TIME, AND STILL YOU SAY I'M NOT GETTING IT. Just say what your point is so I can attack and destroy it... again.

Nah - if i aim for the brain there isn't any chance of hitting it anyway. Better to send in an Islamic extremist and "let him do what he thinks is right, because it makes him think his life is useful"

[philip1201]

That's not what you said 3 days ago when you was kissing our asses!

What do you have with fundamentalist muslims? You already said that militant atheists were more like fundamentalist muslims then fundamentalist muslims themselves.

You're pissed off, we're calm. Guess who won the debate.

[samsroomie]

I'd stop talking about atheism, if the believers would stop pushing their religions.

[MrOmniscient]

Bravo Capn, glad I remained subscribed with you.

[superfisto]

Demanding that someone justify the motivation for their arguments is fallacious. It's an ad hominem. But there's a more clever name that I made up (which you are free to use):

Quapropter Curas

I offer a trade: I'll explain why I care if you can explain why my motivation is relevant to the arguments I've presented.

[TurboLoveTrain]

You don't care--you're simply feeding your own vanity the same way theists feed their vanity.

"Your way is better" so you need to prove it to everyone else by trying to get them to accept their way is inferior.

[CapnOrdinary]

Well, that's your assumption. It's also wrong.

But if that's what you prefer to think, then I can't really do anything about that, now can I?

[TurboLoveTrain]

Not really an assumption. Assumed certainty is a human condition.

[CapnOrdinary]

True. However, from my perspective (which of course is the one most readily available to me) your original comment was dead wrong. And quite impolite about it as well.

And how did it take you 4 months to reply, btw?

[bushfingers]

You can't win with this lot TurboLoveTrain. They are not like the theists who think they know the answers. Nope - this lot KNOW that the know the answers.

[xyzinc]

near the end it sounded like the capn was crying is he OK, nice creatures by the way.

[CapnOrdinary]

Well, I can promise you I wasn't crying ;o) I do think I'm catching a cold, though....

[ZoneTrooper75]

Sounds like us athiests have the same morals after all.

[Danmill23]

Well said!

[amsoho75gr]

cute creatures, glad you can play SPORE and still have time to make vid's

[dechha1981]

Spore looks like an interesting videogame.

When people ask me why I care about Religion I tend to bring up Bush.

[tenneral]

As always, this is a wonderful video and I have listened to it once or twice, gaining more from it each time. I entirely empathise with your standpoint and I am, myself, also conscious of my early days in which I too helped to promote catholic doctrines among the young: fortunately they were often too smart to swallow the nonsense I was expected to force down their throats!!

[mungbeanman]

If you are not part of the solution then you are part of the problem. Makes sense to me.

[akylae101]

Excelent!

[bushfingers]

I am sorry, but you are naive.

To state that because we only have one life it follows that that life is meaningful is a statement of personal belief, akin to any religious statement.

At least be honest and admit that your only motivation is to try and rearrange the world to your personal liking. But don't be a HYPOCRITE (according to your self-made religion). Don't deny others the same chance, even if it means they need to rape, kill, extort and destroy in order to live meaningfully.

[CapnOrdinary]

I am sorry, but you are stupid.

If you do not understand why life is meaningful, that says something very sad about you.

I have been completely honest about my motivations in this video. You may not like them, you may not believe me, but there you are.

And no, I will not allow others to rape, kill, etc., since that would deny the freedom of the people they are raping, killing, etc.

Stop being an idiot and start paying attention.

[bushfingers]

I think your motivation is good, and of course I don't support rape murder etc.

I can see you are a champion of rationality. The problem is you are not rational enough.

Religion is for the irrational.

Atheism is for the rational.

Religion is for the hyper-rational.

[CapnOrdinary]

That made zero sense.

Especially the last sentence is sheer nonsense. Rationality and religion go together like butterflies and nuclear explosions.....

[bushfingers]

You sound arrogant, so now I will be arrogant. You cannot understand most religious people, and they cannot understand you. I understand both positions (as do many other people).

The only hope for the future rests in people who can empathise with others.

I am sure you will come back with some facile put-down, but it's okay - it is only because you don't understand.

[philip1201]

You're correct: you are being arrogant.

He says that he will interviene whenever injustice is done and he can help, and you say you are more empathic then him.

Understanding doesn't mean empathy, respect or agreement. I understand Hitler. Yet i have none of the others for him.

"I am sure you will come back with some facile put-down, but it's okay - it is only because you don't understand." That is THE most arrogant statement i have heard in the last 4 months.

[philip1201]

You are saying you have empathy for (literal translation from greek: feel along with) the crusaders, spanish inquisition, nazis, slavetraders, pol pot, stalin, bush, suicide bombers, explorers of the americas, creationists, scientologists, jesus camps, etc.

Are you an agnostic? Otherwise you are in no position to claim the middle ground.

[bushfingers]

Does it not occur to you that many people in the world think you (I assume you are a Westerner) are just as bad if not worse than some of the those you mention above.

It is so easy to sit back as the smug judge of history and culture (please don't point out that this is a criticism).I could easily find fault with The West, Europe, whites, blacks, meat eaters etc. It is too easy. And it would betray a lack of understanding of human nature.

But as we know, many atheists are above human nature.

[CapnOrdinary]

You're betraying the first signs of cultural relativism. Your psychiatrist might be able to help you with that, y'know....

[bushfingers]

Actually, I go to a witch doctor. But I will seek help for this terrible malady.

PS the ability to be culturally relative is the sign of a superior culture.

[philip1201]

A witch doctor? How much does he/she charge? Ever had serious illnesses? What did he/she advise? If you would get cancer, would you go to the witch doctor or an actual doctor?

What about the Nazi culture? It is a completely different culture from normal german culture: other signs, customs, greetings, beliefs, (self-produced) history, politics and foreign affairs.

Was the holocaust not bad, because the nazis believed they were making the world a better place?

[philip1201]

Or, a more easily defendable case: was the keeping of slaves ok, because the European holy book said so, and it was imbedded into their culture that blacks were inferior?

You are telling us that believing all those atrocities aren't bad is a sign of a superior culture?

PS: isn't saying your culture is superior contradicting the fact that you are a cultural relativist?

(cultural relativist = no belief is better than others, thus cultural relativism is not better than others).

[bushfingers]

I am not sure if I need to mention this, but I was joking when I said I see a witch doctor - you know, all the cultural relativism.

I take your point on Nazi culture, but I am referring to culture in the broad sense. Of course, many neo-Nazis would say there was nothing wrong the Holocaust.

Perhaps modern atheism will turn out to be just as bad as Nazism. Just because they think they are making the world a better place, does it mean it is for that reason right?

[bushfingers]

(cont). What you don't seem to realise is that we are essentially making the same point but coming from different directions - check my original comment.

I could argue for complete relativism, but I'm not going to because I don't believe it is right. According to Christianity, it is wrong to harm others, therefore murder is wrong. Why is murder wrong for you?

[philip1201]

I'm not saying "Don't deny others the same chance, even if it means they need to rape, kill, extort and destroy in order to live meaningfully."

That is your viewpoint.

Murder is wrong for me because it causes pain. (in other ways, because it is wrong to harm others).

Christians believe it because their god says so, atheists believe it because it is wise.

In christianity, murder comes sixth, after commandments saying herecy should be punished by death. In atheism, murder is #1.

[bushfingers]

I sorry you are unable to grasp my point.

Clearly you have all the answers (and at such a young age), so I guess all that's left is for me to thank you for taking the time to teach me.

Please don't write to me again - I can't stand your atheistic wisdom any more.

[philip1201]

You said your point was your first comment. Then i quote your first comment. Then you say that isn't your point. You're a little vague, aren't you?

No, I don't have all the answers, but I do have some that you do not. I have very little answers. (I know that i know -virtually- nothing).

Your sarcastic question-dodging won't work on me.

[philip1201]

"modern atheism" hasn't caused trouble for the last 200 years - if you define "modern atheism" the belief that there is no god, originating from observation, criticism and the scientific method. (as opposed to "communistic atheism" originating from the dogma of equality)

"Just because they think they are making the world a better place, does it mean it is for that reason right?" I'm not the cultural relativist, you are. So, wrong.

[CapnOrdinary]

"the ability to be culturally relative is the sign of a superior culture."

That one was actually funny. Very nice.

Just a pity that you're still hell-bent on misinterpreting and misunderstanding our perspective, but then again, we're used to that.

[philip1201]

I know a few who do. (I've been called a CIA robot seeking to indoctrinate fellow youtubers by saying 9/11 wasn't a conspiracy - twice).

"culture" You call the abovementioned maldoings "culture"? Most I mentioned were western, european, white meat-eaters. But for the sake of the blacks: Shaka.

"it would betray a lack of understanding of human nature." Is it a lack of understanding to deny facts? We have the power to stand above such atrocities - through rationality AND our nature.

[philip1201]

Put two humans on an island and they WON'T fight to the death. Tell them about how other humans did fight and lost more than if they would have been peaceful, and they will learn FROM HISTORY that they should not fight.

If, on the other hand, you would tell them that it is their nature to fight, they will develop mistrust for eachother, and eventually fight.

Educate people, teach them about their differences and their similarities, so they may decide right and wrong.

All people can do this.

[bushfingers]

You are an optimist I see. If the atheists on youtube were more compassionate, tolerant and rational, I may begin to accept your point. But the self-appointed enlightened ones are often the most offensive and hate-filled people I ever encounter.

Give me Christianity or Buddhism or Islam (the peaceful type) or agnosticism, but I don't want anything to do with atheism.

So I guess I'm not a true relativist after all.

[EineKleineAtheist]

What is illogical and wrong about atheism? Forget the atheists, just explain: Why are you against atheism, which only is a lack of belief in a supreme being?

[bushfingers]

Why am I against atheism:

1. I think it is extremely bad for civilization i.e. I think religion of one sort or another is necessary for the formation and cohesion of civilisation.

2. It is easy for rich people in the West to believe they are not dependant on God, but for millions of poor and desperate people all over the world, a belief in God is all they have. Only the most insensitive and vicious people would try to take this away.

3. Atheism is basically hypocritical.

[EineKleineAtheist]

Quote from Sam Harries: Countries like Norway, Iceland, Australia, Canada, Sweden, Switzerland, Belgium, Japan, the Netherlands, Denmark and the United Kingdom are among the least religious societies on Earth. According to the United Nations' Human Development Report (2005) they are also the healthiest, as indicated by measures of life expectancy, adult literacy, per capita income, educational attainment, gender equality, homicide rate and infant mortality. And please elaborate on 3.

[bushfingers]

Wait, give it some time. Mainstream Europe is still under the influence of Christianity, and it will probably continue to be so for the next few decades.

But wait, the next bloodbath will soon be upon us. And this will not just be the doing of a single rogue state. (My personal thoughts of course.)

[EineKleineAtheist]

So you claim Christianity is the basis for our morality, and an eventual lack of belief in a God will lead to giant wars beyond our imagination?

[bushfingers]

As did Nietzsche.

And he made some rather accurate predications in this regard. Let me say that I don't believe his prophesies have not yet been completely fulfilled.

[EineKleineAtheist]

Neither do I. I hope we will one day achieve the ''status'' of übermench. However, I do not believe in perfection, only improvements, and Nietzsche is out-dated. No, he wasn't and anti-semitist like many religious people claim to further back their ''evidence'' that Hitler drew inspiration from Nietzsche's moral thoughts, but if you read Human, All too Human, he was a sexist. There is no reason to take Nietzsche seriously, after all, he did grow mentally ill over the years.

[bushfingers]

I happen to love Nietzsche's philosophy. He had astounding intelligence, integrity and courage. I have read Human, All too Human - brilliant.

I think if atheists ever start canonising, Nietzsche should be the first choice.

[philip1201]

Funny - Europe has more atheists then America and is in a better situation then America. There is a positive correlation level of education and atheism.

The most aggressive nations in the last 10 years have all been either Christian or Islamic.

[EineKleineAtheist]

On 2: Is truth based on injustice? If it helps you, please believe, but belief doesn't equal truth.

[bushfingers]

No. As you say, belief doesn't equal truth. But most atheists can't deal with the truth either.

And for me, compassion is more important than truth.

(I'm sure a whole lot of little hypocrites will make a lot of that last statement.)

[EineKleineAtheist]

But compassion and truth are entirely different subjects, I know right from wrong through empathy, sympathy and altruism and the fact that I am social herd animal who's civilization has grown to acknowledge the need for a moral code. This however, doesn't stand in my way for acknowledging evolution and science in general, as well as realizing that there is a 50/50 of something supernatural and something not supernatural. I however, do not like the idea of ''knowing'' what that supernatural is.

[bushfingers]

A completely reasonable comment.

Let me just clarify and say that I am trained in science, and know more about science that the majority of atheists. I completely accept evolution as a fact. Not every believer is a scientific ignoramus, who accepts ID.

I am essentially in the same position as you, but I CHOOSE TO BELIEVE. And that is 'believe', not 'know'.

[EineKleineAtheist]

That is perfectly alright, and I respect you, but do not see why you despise atheism when that is basically disbelief. The only the thing I dislike about religion aside from Creationism are the claims that atheists have no morals, and then claiming that their Holy Book is the one and only. I don't know about your world-view, but Christians who only follow their ten commandments and love their God through compassion to their fellow human beings are excellent humans whom I have no problem with.

[bushfingers]

I must admit that I have nothing against the idea of atheism in itself (it is a perfectly legitimate philosophical position), but what scares me is when the position is held with religious ardour by semi-educated thugs. But one must also realise that ideas have consequences.

Hey EineKleineAtheist, I don't want to insult you, but you are the sort of atheist I like!

You seem to be decent and EVOLVED.

[philip1201]

"with religious ardour by semi-educated thugs" You mean Stalin, Mao and Pol Pot, probably.

Why do you prefer religious madmen to atheistic madmen? Both exist. Atheism doesn't guarantee rationality. It does, however, make it more likely.

Atheism CAN be held with religious ardour. Religion IS held with religious ardour.

You've tried to sweet talk an atheist TWICE now. Stop being so weak and actually try to uphold what you believe, instead of squirm with compliments whenever you are questioned.

[bushfingers]

(cont). Atheists want to keep all the aspects of religion that they like while rejecting the foundations. This is either hypocrisy or lack of rigour in thinking.

I could go on but I won't.

In many ways I have no problem with atheism on an individual level. Many atheisms are wonderful, intelligent and caring people. But militant atheists are not. And I think the really negative aspects of atheism only manifest when accepted by society at large.

[bushfingers]

I understand the atheism of Sartre who said "That God does not exist, I cannot deny, That my whole being cries out for God I cannot forget."

This is the response of a good man.

[philip1201]

What aspects would those be?

It is the response of a weak man. One who sees the truth, but dislikes it so much, that he denies it willingly. He does not see that "a garden can be beautiful, without believing there are fairies at the bottom of it".

[philip1201]

Why don't you consider it the other way around: religion is the collection of various aspects, and atheists take another set of aspects.

Morality is not the result of a religious train of thought. It is independant.

The only "foundation" of (Christian) morality we lack is (eternal) punishment. Yet we still uphold morality. We keep our morals, without there being any benefit from doing so, other then morality itself. THAT is moral.

Militant atheists are passive.

[bushfingers]

philip1201, you are a little arrogant and not-nearly-as-clever-as-you-th­ink turd. The reason people can't stand atheists is because of the likes of you. Please stop writing to me. Please.

[philip1201]

I know that I don't know much. You thought you knew much. I taught you you don't know much. Because of that, you don't like me anymore.

God, I sound like Socrates!

The only difference is, nowadays every atheist and reasonable theist can tell you that.

[bushfingers]

philip1201, I promise you I am not scared to argue with you, but you are just not getting my point. If you took a time to reassess from the beginning, you may see what is going on. But you keep attacking straw men with each comment - you don't have the intelligence to see the big picture.

I have exceptionally smart friends to argue with - I really don't want to get involved in some little kid's ego trip.

PS Please don't compare yourself to Socrates - it is truly unseemly (not to say ironic)

[philip1201]

Then I ask you to say what your point is - when asked the first time you referred to your first comment, in which you acted like a complete cultural relativist. In later comments, you began to make a sharper and sharper sistinction between atheism and theism. When pointed to those conflicting ideas, you responded like you do now: "You're not getting my point."

Now you're playing the ad hominem, a weak attempt, which is more an attempt at self-reassurance then it is an actual argument.

[philip1201]

I see certain similarities: the logical upper hand, the more rational arguments, the more emotionally charged opponent, the response of said opponent, the willingness to accept nothing over something.

Please explain the irony. The only way I see it that you could think there is any irony involved if you think that YOU are like Socrates, and that, is hypocricy.

[bushfingers]

This is my last message to you philip1201.

Not only are you a dullard, but you are a hypocrite to boot. Did you not write;

"It is the response of a weak man" and "Stop being so weak and actually try to uphold what you believe".

You say these things and then whine that I am going ad hominem. Socrates :-)

If you want to understand the point I am making, re-read my first post - 100 times if necessary. Or ask your mother to explain it to you. Or anyone with an IQ over 120 should do.

[philip1201]

Are you now claiming that you are Sartre as well as Socrates? "It is the response of a weak man" was a reaction on you quoting him. You said he was good, i said he wasn't. That is the point of an argument.

That second was because you was kissing my and EineKleineAtheist's asses.

Both were followed by an argument from reason. I said I had similarities to socrates, not that i was him.

Here follows your first post:

[philip1201]

"I am sorry, but you are naive.

To state that because we only have one life it follows that that life is meaningful is a statement of personal belief, akin to any religious statement.

At least be honest and admit that your only motivation is to try and rearrange the world to your personal liking. But don't be a HYPOCRITE (according to your self-made religion). Don't deny others the same chance, even if it means they need to rape, kill, extort and destroy in order to live meaningfully."

[philip1201]

The points you make are, in order:

1. Atheists are naive. (later: but 2/3 atheists i'm talking to aren't)

2. Atheists are religious. (later: only in groups)

3. Atheists are hypocrites.

4. Theists are allowed to rape, kill, extort or destroy if they believe it helps them live a useful life. (later: but hitler a.o. crazymen are bad)

Let me ask now questions three:

1. Do I need to analyse again?

2. Do you mean another comment?

3. Will you stop or make a third "last response"?

[philip1201]

Perhaps you have prejudice: you believe that atheists aren't "compassionate, tolerant and rational", and that i am the exception.

You have prejudice for Islam too: "Islam (the peaceful type)"

A cultural relatvist with prejudice... a contradictio in terminis.

How many atheists have you spoken to on the street, without you realising it? Are we more different from Christians then Muslims (from Christians)?

I guess you aren't.

[bushfingers]

I too cannot stand 9-11 conspiracies.

"Is it a lack of understanding to deny facts". Here you make the usual atheist mistake (you may not be one but for the sake of argument I will assume it). You are the one who wants to go beyond the facts and bring in the idea of atrocity.

The fact: 6 million innocent Jews were murdered. The interpretation: it was an atrocity.

[philip1201]

"innocent" is an opinion too, as is "murdered" (remove innocent and replace murdered by killed)

Anyway, you would teach your children that 6 million innocent Jews were murdered but NOT that it was an atrocity?

Morality is the same for everyone, therefore the logical interpretation of that morality can (with the same certainty as mathematics) prove that something is an atrocity.

[bushfingers]

Thanks for clearing this up for me. You are so clever, I just can't keep up.

[philip1201]

I asked a question. It wasn't retorical.

You avoid this debate because it gets all too close to making you seriously question your beliefs.

[bushfingers]

Wow, what an arrogant prick you must have encountered 4 months ago!

But who is more arrogant than the new atheists. They claim they are smarter, better educated, more rational, and of course more moral, than anyone else. They will not tolerate disagreement or compromise. In fact, if I had to finger any major group as being most like the Islamic fundamentalists, I would probably point to the militant atheists.

[CapnOrdinary]

Smarter? No. My IQ did not suddenly change when I became an atheist. Better educated? Not necessarily. More rational? Compared to theists, certainly! More moral? That varies, just as it does with everybody else....

It seems you are very good at making assumptions about a point of view you clearly understand next to nothing about.

[philip1201]

There are many Christians smarter/more educated than me: Newton, Einstein, Hitler (smart enough to indoctrinate a populace in 7 years), 28% of scientists.

"more rational" - only on the religious areas.

moral: Only on what we consider to be the source, and on religions areas (kill for your religion? Y/N)

"disagreement" - only in debate

"compromise" only on religion, but then again, i've never seen anyone but agnostics accept a compomise on their beliefs.

[philip1201]

I would point to Islamic fundamentalists, but that's just me.

Crusaders, slavemasters, spanish inquisitors and jihadists go up there too.

Militant atheists murder, as do militant theists. They do it just as much, just as bad.

[CapnOrdinary]

"You sound arrogant, so now I will be arrogant."

Success. I can clearly understand most religious people, since I was one for more than 20 years. You however, have so far made nothing but false assumptions about my point of view, compounded with pure bullshit.

I have yet to see you make a valid point.

[bushfingers]

Make no mistake - you are still religious.

As for a point, here goes: .

Hope you got that.

[retepvosnul]

Look mommy, an utter tool!

[bushfingers]

:-) .|..

[philip1201]

Look! There's a finger missing!

[bushfingers]

Actually not - try it on yourself if you can't visualize.

[philip1201]

You're right-handed!

[corridorofpower]

"Religion is for the irrational.

Atheism is for the rational.

Religion is for the hyper-rational."

This is the best quote ever.

Bushfingers, you ARE hypre-rational. Rationalization is all you've got.

[bushfingers]

I appreciate this :-)

[dechha1981]

bushfingers

Wait... wait... are you trying to justify Murder and Rape?

[bushfingers]

Not at all dechha1981. Rape is so passé (not to say politically incorrect). So being a person of good taste, I am only trying to justify murder.

[philip1201]

True that: you are trying to justify murder.

[RockinRowdyRufus]

Your best video yet! And the same reason I spread the truth about the evils of religion!

[freetaught]

It is amazing to me that there are so many theists who are unable to see why atheists may find their viewpoints morally objectionable and attempt to argue against them.I have heard many of them claim that without a belief in a god,a person cannot have morality.Surely,these theists must accept that all other theists whose gods that are not their own must have as little morality as an atheist;yet,they still acknowledge that these other theists do have a moral compass,even if they think its flawed.

[NJRJC]

The crusades, the inquisition...modern suicide bombings - why do atheists care about religion? Because religion is based in a fictional, non reality - yet it's members and followers can create a big impact, through their all too often misguided actions. Furthermore, I don't think its a good thing that most people go about their business with a bunch of lies poluting their thoughts - lies that were invented by people with the intent of controlling the populous. Religion = political engine.

[ForzaInternazionale9]

Very good !

[KasparHauser4]

My only wish is... to transform friends of God into friends of man, believers into thinkers, devotees of prayer into devotees of work, candidates for the hereafter into students of the world, Christians who, by their own procession and admission, are "half animal, half angel" into persons, into whole persons. -- Ludwig Feuerbach (Lectures on the Essence of Religion)

[thehefercow]

very intellectually powerful video, you made an impact in my life. 5/5

[HeadoftheHydra]

Create a creature for me too, Capn.

I'm just waiting until the game comes out. Don't want to spoil it, I guess. :)

[zeldarooles]

did you purchase the creature creator or did you just get the trial version?

[CapnOrdinary]

I purchased the full version.

[Tulmara]

Am I the only one who is having trouble with this videos volume, I can barely hear it.

[CapnOrdinary]

Yeah, my new mic is much clearer than the old busted one, sadly I haven't really figured out the appropriate volume yet. I apologize.

[RyunSharp]

Your saving the world from "BULLSHIT" my friend.

That bullshit is theism!

saving the human mind from bullshit, is saving the life in all it's lifetime.

[ogami72]

Very well said.Spore looks cool,but I have too much painting to finish before I play any video games...but that new Metal Gear has been calling me.How is the quiting smoking going?

[CapnOrdinary]

Almost up to three months now :) Oh, sheesh, painting..... My Orks are still at a complete stand-still, haven't painted anything for at least a month :S Gotta get started soon or I'll be completely overwhelmed when the new starter set comes out (with 30 more Orks for me to paint)

[ogami72]

Three months is a lot better than I ever did.I think my record is four days,stay strong.I've painted a lot lately,got the new GW wash set a couple weeks ago,I can't say evough good things about it.Washes will make painting all those Orks go a lot quicker.

[ShadowCrashed81]

Well said, nice creatures.

[bu1ckgnx]

I didn't know you were an ex-evangelical! Way to pull a 180.

[thorungal]

Brilliant, I had some trouble justifying that myself. I must admit the comment that with no reward or punishment I can't care about people makes me wonder how selfish they think I am (and more importantly how does this opinion reflect on their own thoughts).

[crimsonfist3]

Another amazing video, thanks :)

[hippocampuszosterae]

Ouch.

[jebus6kryst]

Nicely stated.

[Roostring]

Well said.

[Gringoman911]

I am very glad I had a unsuccessful career as a JW, Id would feel guilty today.

[Gringoman911]

We should promote spore, To help the public understand how evolution works.

[SpeedDeccard]

By a mythical magic man assembling parts together and controlling individuals and societies actions?

I kid. I kid.

[Saukko31]

Can the creatures change generations after generations without user manipulating them? That is, you leave the game running, and after a while you see slightly different creatures compared to the originals.

If not, then it is not evolution.

Well, I'm looking forward to this game.

[PowerOfTheDevine]

Great work man.